There were 2,060 households out of which 34.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 35.5% were married couples living together, 29.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.4% were non-families. 28.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.64 and the average family size was 3.25.

In the city the population was spread out with 31.9% under the age of 18, 8.1% from 18 to 24, 24.7% from 25 to 44, 18.8% from 45 to 64, and 16.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 81.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 71.2 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $20,250, and the median income for a family was $24,107. Males had a median income of $24,861 versus $16,116 for females. The per capita income for the city was $12,012. About 29.6% of families and 33.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 50.7% of those under age 18 and 22.7% of those age 65 or over.

The Peanut Corporation of America had a factory in Blakely that produced peanut paste (which is in turn used by other manufacturers in other foods). Officials from the FBI and FDA say the plant's officials and workers were suspected of spreading salmonella bacteria in 2007-2009 by knowingly allowing products that had tested positive to be re-tested as negatives (giving a false-negative second result) and then allowing them to be shipped out despite the fact they could have been positive. This likely contributed to numerous illnesses and at least eight deaths. (As a result, the FDA and FBI became involved, leading a U.S. Justice Department criminal investigation.) Several lawsuits were filed by victims' descendants, and a massive nationwide recall of many products by several companies took place. The company shut the plant and laid off all of the plant’s roughly 50 employees for the duration of the investigation, which caused economic hardship for the town during the 2009 recession.

The non-profit group, Early County 2055, established its headquarters on Court Square in Blakely. Funding for the long-term development plan for the revitalization of the city and county was led by the Charles Rice Family and Foundation.

Blakely is the base of the Early County School System, which has a newly renovated football stadium and gymnasium. Blakely also opened a new sportsplex, named in memorial and honor of local coach Ray Knight. It has multiple softball and baseball fields, multi-purpose fields, and is operated by the Blakely-Early County Recreation Department.

The Early County School District holds grades pre-school to grade twelve, that consists of one elementary school, a middle school, and a high school.[7] The district has 156 full-time teachers and over 2,764 students.[8]

The actress Whitney Houston's ancestors are from Blakely. Her maternal grandfather, Nitcholas Drinkard, was born to Susan Bell (Fuller) Drinkard (born 1876), of African-American and Dutch descent, and John Drinkard, Jr. (born 1870), of African-American and Native American descent. His ancestors included African-American landowners in Blakely. The Drinkards owned a substantial amount of farmland during a time when it was unusual for blacks to own large portions of land. The asset was gradually depleted as small portions of the land were sold, over time to resolve continued legal troubles of a close relative.